TUCSON, Ariz. – After winning the first two matches in straight sets, Arizona needed to rally late to defeat Grand Canyon, 3-2, Saturday at the Arizona Sand Volleyball Courts.

The Wildcats (2-0) got off to a quick start in the first round of play as the No. 5 team of Emily Kiser and Sarah Seiber defeated Grand Canyon’s Brandy Grant and Brita Forsythe in straight sets, 21-15, 21-17.

Arizona quickly took a 2-0 lead in the competition as the No. 4 team of Allie Cook and Penina Snuka needed three sets to take down Kami Dickerson and Chloe Jenkins, 21-16, 18-21, 15-12.

However, Grand Canyon (0-1) would not go down without a fight. The Antelopes cut the score to 2-1 as their No. 1 team of Kenzie Phelps and Kelli Dallmann took down Arizona’s top team of Madi Kingdon and Jane Croson, 21-14, 21-17.

In the No. 2 position, the Arizona team of Madison and McKenna Witt made quick work of Shannon Dugan and Megan Glennie in the opening set, 21-8. Dugan-Glennie quickly regrouped; however, as the GCU team won the next two sets, 21-18 and 15-10, to win the match and even the competition 2-2.

It all came down to the No. 3 position as Arizona’s duo of Ronni Lewis and Rachel Rhoades split the first two sets with GCU’s Alex Goodman and Kaitlyn Ausmus. With the match and competition coming down to the third set, Goodman-Ausmus were in control for much of the set and even earned match point at 14-13. However, Lewis-Rhoades rallied back to win three straight points to close the match, giving the Wildcats the victory.

The Wildcats will be back in action to close out the Arizona Invitational against Arizona State at 4 p.m.